Fishing net



J. R. PHANEUF Sept. 29, 1953 FISHING NET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April25, 1948 INVENTOR. JOSEPH IZ- PHANEUF ATTORNEY p 1953 J. R. PHANEUF2,653,404

I FISHING NET I Filed April 23, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIII'IIII.

IN VEN TOR. JOSEPH IZ- PHANEUF ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITEDST T ATENT OFF E 7 Is nNG NET Jesevi 3-. ilsseee lihbr dee ApplicatioApril 23, 1948, Se ial N 2 923 e ie r l t is fis in n t nd as particuiarreference to a collapsible landing net.

Q e the principal bi et ef th means is to provide a landing netembodying a hollow handle and collapsibly associated" resilient net sepe t em por i ns n n -wees ma e eq r a ted es ve i o e e t en .mternally of the handle for ease of "conveyance when not in use and whichmay be automatically eiee es r m the a d en u en d e u l pos n, ef use ia simple nd effieien manner whereby the net supporting frame and an eill be K ke ea ies twisting or u n movement relative to eaeh other.

Another object is to provide a landing net of seebe e ehe ee e he i sree n s porting frame portions which may be quickly a s easil e t d f e ene m e e e f P isitiee i te na l o the handle e t n TeX- terx e the eo ad to evie eid' eme e ien wit eie et ll fu e n s mea f permanentlyretaining said frame'portions in epez e i ein o se by me v' x rtin a lht pre su e n th ou er r ensl f said ame portions.

Another object is to provide a landing net of the shove hs ei r w ie ilight in Wei ht and well be e d whe epen d er u and whhes ven ila i nmean H the h nd e 12 Hiie t the n t t are a te use as when sa hes i m.r-et eei d 1 v is t en wi h s i he -s e- Ae f h r bi-e t is to vi e fin e ei e: ties be wee t e ne st e s e eins Pb e is see a slide bl ek eeee intei iell e the hen: l e whereb th i eme eert ees m e eee i d tofullest possible eiipansion ithout strain.

eeeih r swe t o p ev i e liele b e s ef th sl ev e e eeeer whi h is s llebrieet e and wh ch l ie smeeth d ee k t m eas e pera ion V ther objectis to provide automatically mn onin fr me e n m ans or e d v er he a oveeharee r Whieh wi 'r e the Heme pe tien in eekee o i i ern l e eX- Pe 1yof the'handle' Anett b ct i to r v de a ee w i h may be aut mei ee ldrew? t e si ien r verl ine t e end of the handle when the netsupporting flame e iens a net a e me ed inwa d vl f the handle.

"ei he e i i is t9 e evie s lea in .ne 9

the s e e here e whi h ma be qui t ens easily disassembled without theneed of special tools.

Another object is to provide automatically and positive functioningmeans for retaining the eript en t e in 2 resilient frame portions inopened position when in use and which may he simply and easily disengagedior allowingthe frame portionstp re; turn'to their initial set forease of movement thereof internally of the handle when notin use.

Another object is to provide a net for a device of the abovecharacterwhich is so constructed as to afiord ease of movement thereof to a po}sition internally of the handle when the net supporting frame portionsare drawn inwardly. of said handle;

other objects and advantages of the inven tion will become apparent fromthe following dee en e e w t h ee em P l drawings and 'w ll e a pa n thamany changes may he made in the details of construction and arrangementof parts and des ileee tit set rm ne om th s of the invent'on asexpressed in the accompany pref r e orms hly a been g ve b wav 9?illustration.

Referring to the drawings: Fig! 1 i a ee e v i e l w 9f the d viseembodying the invention showing the parts in ei es' en t na l ef h handlFig. 2 is fragmentary view of the devise ils reine i e e e t e ineieetee" PL Fig. 3 isa plan v ew showing the net sup ortie ram rt n e te sen n e ee ees t ee Fig. A: is a side elevational view of the devicebody n th inv m i 5 is es'.e 1er d reemente se t na view sh ins th nerim-e eee t u tien e t e device embodying the invention;

s- 6 e ra m ar view hew ns he i em end of the device embodying theinvention and u t e ne e m eifi ef em odyi esp m mber Fig. '7 is aninternal view of the frame endoonstruction of the device illustrated inFig. 6;

Fig! is a ra mentar ei eel iew e th fra end .e estr tei n e? the d vembed ies the in nt n an sho he see 9 Fi 6 i a sembled relati n 'vviththe handle;

es s maste .s leti ee view .te ee as on line I9 .of Fig. 5;

". s- 10 i s V w enera simil r is F e- 9? e urthe medifl e s me of thenveniie lse 1 is a ra men a see ien l vi w tak n on line Il -ll ofFig.6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters ofreference designate like parts throughout the several views, the deviceembodying the invention comprises a tubular handle ll, preferably formedof aluminum or other light Weight metal, having a longitudinal slot l2formed in a sidewall thereof and extending from adjacent a rear handgrip end portion I3 to adjacent the forward end of the handle. The rearend of the handle has a cap or closure portion M secured thereto bypins, screws or the like l5. The portion i4 is provided with a lughaving an opening therein to which a cord may be attached.

Internally of the tubular handle ii, there is loosely supported a slideblock H5 formed preferably of rock maple or other desirable hard woodimpregnated with oil and wax to provide selflubrication. The slide blocki6, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, has a pair of spaced parallel slots I 1and it formed in one end thereof in Whichil is pivotally supported thehinge ears l9 and of connection members and 22. The connection membersare secured to the inner ends of the spring net supporting frameportions 23 and 24 by spaced integral outwardly extending rectangularprojections 59 formed on one of the sides of each of said members 2! and22 and which are extended through spaced rectangular slots '60 formed inthe frame portions and then headed over to anchor the parts together asillustrated at 25, see Figs. 5 and 8. The pivot pin to which the ears [9and 25 are pivotally attached is illustrated at 23 in Fig. 5. The pin itis held in position through the provision of a threaded bore 27 in theinner end thereof and by threading said end onto a stud screw 28internally of the block.

The hinge ears l9 and 20 are each provided with a shouldered portion 29adapted to engage a pin 39 for limiting their inward pivotal movement.

The net supporting frame portions 23 and 24 are preferably formed offiat spring steel and are connected at their outer ends to connectionmeans 3! and 32, said frame portions having integral projections 57 onthe sides thereof which are shaped to extend through spaced slots 58 insaid frame portions and are then headed over to anchor the partstogether as illustrated at 33, see Figs. 6.

The connection means 3! and 32 are pivotally connected to each other bya pivot bolt 34. The bolt is held in position by a nut 35 and isprovided with a washer 3E5 resiliently and frictionally held in positionby a coil spring 31. The washer is located on the side of the connectionmeans 3! and 32 opposite the nut 35 and is adapted to ride upwardly ofthe pivot bolt against the action of the coil spring 3'! to allow theflared and slightly upturned end 33 formed on the connection means 3| toride over and latch behind the slightly forwardly bent end 39 of theframe portion 24. This is to hold said frame portions 23 and 24 in openposition as shown in Figs. 3, 6, and '7. This latching of the end 33behind the forwardly bent end 39 of the frame portion 24 is accomplishedby compressing the ends of the frame portions and in turn causing saidframe portions to flex outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, by an amountsuflicient to allow the end 38 to snap over the forwardly bent end 39and to be automatically latched therewith by the resilient action of thecoil spring 31. To unlatch the end 33 from the end 39, all that isrequired is to exert a slight end pressure and simultaneous sidepressure on said end portions. The unlatching will immediately allow theresilient side portions of the net supporting frame to straighten outdue to their tendency to return to their initial set, as shown in Fig.2.

The net carried by the frame portions 23 and 24 is diagrammaticallyillustrated at 40 and is adapted to be drawn inwardly of the tubularhandle with said frame portions by engaging the outwardly protrudingportion of the pivot pin 26 which extends through the longitudinal slot[2 and by pulling said pin rearwardly toward the hand grip portion l3.This simultaneously moves the slide block l6 rearwardly and intoengagement with a coil spring 4| located internally of the tubularhandle H and is adapted to compress said coil spring. The block I6 isprovided on the side thereof, with a spring pressed trip button 42adapted to latch with an opening 43 formed in the side wall of thetubular handle adjacent the hand grip portion 13 to hold the block [8,frame portions 23 and 24 and net 40 in retracted position internally ofthe tubular handle. It is particularly pointed out that the net 49 is soconstructed that its lower end 5| lies rearwardly of its vertical centerline, as shown in Fig. 4. This causes the front portion 52 of the net toextend rearwardly along a relatively sharp angle and the rear portion 53to be inclined in a direction only slightly forwardly whereby said rearportion, during the drawing of the net inwardly of the handle, willcause the various forward portions of the net to move rearwardly and theend 5! to move upwardly substantially along an arcuate curve asillustrated by the dot and dash line 54. This positions the end 5|slightly rearwardly of the ends of the frame portions 23 and 24 wherebythe net will be entirely drawn inwardly of the handle when the frameportions are drawn inwardly thereof. The end of the handle is preferablyflared as illustrated at 55 to permit ease in drawing the net and frameportions internally of the handle. The entire unit is forced outwardlyof the tubular handles by the coil spring 4! by merely compressing thetrip button 42.

The button 42, when moved to the forward end of the tubular handle I I,is adapted to automatically latch with an opening 44 formed in the sidewall of the tubular handle adjacent said forward end, see Fig. l. Thisholds the frame portions 23 and 24 outwardly of the tubular handle andprevents rotation thereof relative to the handle r' when the frameportions are spread by latching the end 33 with the end 39.

A cap member 45, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, may be pivotally securedto the connection means 3| and 32 by link members 43 and 41 and may beautomatically drawn over the outer end of the tubular handle H, as shownin Fig. 8, when the frame portions 23 and 24 and the net 40 are drawninwardly of the handle. In this instance, the handle has no flared endsuch as shown at 55.

The link members keep the cap 45 in alignment with the end of thetubular handle by bearing at their sides with the inner rim of the capas shown at 48 and 49 in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 10, there is shown a slight modification wherein the resilientframe portions 23 and 24 are rigidly secured in diametrically opposedrecesses 6| formed in the block It by rivets or the like 53.

It is particularly pointed out that the slot [2, although forming aguideway for the retracting pin 26, also provides a stop'ifor limitingthe outward movement of the net supports relative to the handle,prevents rotation of the net supports and net relative to the handlewhen open or retracted and also provides ventilation means whereby whena wet :net :is pulled into retracted position in the handle, it will befree to dry.

The parts'may be quickly and easily disassembled by removing the pin'26.

The pivot bolt 34 is preferably 'threadedly connected to the member .32and the nut :35 functions as a check nut to lock the bolt againstbacking out.

The .fiared end '55 is to prevent tearing the net when it is being movedto retracted position in the handle.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that simple, efficientand economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of theobjects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, 1 ciaim:

1. In a fishing net of the type embodying a tubular handle and resilientnet supporting frame portions operably connected with said tubularhandle so as to be extendable and retractable with respect to saidhandle, the improvement wherein the outer ends of said frame portionshave, adjacent each of said ends, connection means in the form of aplate member secured along a side edge thereof to each of the inner sidesurfaces of said frame portions, a pivot post pivotally connecting saidplate members with each other at a location outwardly of the ends ofsaid resilient frame portions, said pivot post being such that one ofsaid plate members, in addition to its pivotal movement, is adapted tomove in a sidewise direction relative to the other plate member in adirection longitudinally of the axis of the pivot post, and resilientmeans on said pivot post for normally urging said plate members towardseach other, one of said frame portions having an end portion angularlydisposed with respect to the plate member secured thereto, and the platemember secured to the other of said frame portions, beyond the pivotpost, having an end portion deflected outwardly in a sidewise directionand, under the tension of the resilient means on said pivot post, beingadapted to automatically latch with said angularly disposed portion ofthe end of the opposed frame portion when the adjacent ends of saidresilient net supporting frame portions are pressed inwardly toward thetubular handle to bow said frame portions outwardly a desired amountwith respect to each other and to hold said frame portions in said bowedrelation, the resiliency of said frame portions, when the deflected endportion of the plate member is in unlatched relation with the angularlydisposed end of the opposed frame portion, being such as to tend tocause said frame portions to return to their initial extended shapewhereby they may be retracted and extended with respect to the tubularhandle.

2. In a fishing net of the type embodying a tubular handle and resilientnet supporting frame portions operably connected with said tubularhandle so as to be extendable and retractable with respect to saidhandle, the improvement wherein the outer ends of said frame portionshave, adjacent each of said ends, connection means in the form of aplate member secured along a side edge thereof to each of the inner sidesurfaces of said frame portions, a pivot post pivotally connecting saidplate members 6, with each other at :a location outwardly of the ends ofsaid resilient frame portions, said pivot post being such that tone ofsaid plate members, in addition to its pivotal movement, is adapted tomove in a sidewise direction relative to the other plate member in adirection longitudinally of the axis of the pivot post,andresilientqneans on said pivot post for normally urging "said platemembers towards each other, one of said frame portions having an endportion angularly disposed with respect to the plate member securedthereto, and the plate member secured to the other of said frameportions, beyond the pivot post, having an end portion deflectedoutwardly in a sidewise direction and, under the tension of the"resilient means on said pivot post, "being adapted to automaticallylatch with said angular-ly disposed portion of the end of the opposedframe portion "when the adjacent ends of said resilient .net supportingframe portions are pressed inwardly toward the tubular handle to bowsaid frame portions outwardly a desired amount with respect to eachother and to hold said frame portions in said bowed relation, theresiliency of said frame portions, when the defiected end ortion oftheplate member is in unlatched relation with the :angularly disposed endof the opposed frame portion, being such as to tend to cause said frameportions to to their initial extended shape whereby they may beretracted and extended with respect to the tubular handle, a hollow capshaped to fit over the end of the tubular handle when the "frameportions are in retracted position and a pair of link members pivotallyconnected adjacent one end thereof to the cap and adjacent their re-"spective opposed ends to each-of the respective plate members.

3. In a fishing net of the type embodying a tubular handle andrelatively long blade springlike resilient net supporting frame portionsoperably connected with said tubular handle so as to be extendable andretractable with respect to said handle, the improvement wherein theouter ends of said frame portions have, adjacent each of said ends,connection means in the form of a plate member secured along a side edgethereof to each of the inner side surfaces of said frame portions, apivot post pivotally connecting said plate members with each other at alocation outwardly of the ends of said resilient frame portions, saidpivot post being such that one of said plate members, in addition to itspivotal movement, is adapted to move in a sidewise direction relative tothe other plate member in a direction longitudinally of the axis of thepivot post, and coil spring means on said pivot post for normally urgingsaid plate member towards each other, one of said frame portions havingan end portion angularly disposed with respect to the plate membersecured thereto, and the plate member secured to the other of said frameportions, having an end extending outwardly beyond the pivot and beingdeflected outwardly in a sidewise direction and, under the tension ofthe coil spring means on the post, being adapted to automatically latchwith said angularly disposed portion of the end of the opposed frameportion when the adjacent ends of said resilient net supporting frameportions are pressed inwardly toward the tubular handle to bow saidframe portions outwardly a desired amount with respect to each other andto hold said frame portions in said bowed relation, the resiliency ofsaid frame portions, when the deflected end portion of the plate memberis in unlatched relation with the angularly disposed end of the opposedframe portion, being such as to tend to cause said frame portions toreturn to their initial extended shape whereby they may be retracted orextended with respect to the tubular handle.

4. In a fishing net of the type embodying a tubular handle andrelatively long blade springlike resilient net supporting frame portionsoperably connected with said tubular handle so as to be extendable andretractable with respect to said handle, the improvement wherein theouter ends of said frame portions have, adjacent each of said ends,connection means in the form of a plate member secured along a side edgethereof to each of the inner side surfaces of said frame portions, apivot post pivotally connecting said plate members with each other at alocation outwardly of the ends of said resilient frame portions, saidpivot post being such that one of said plate members, in addition to itspivotal movement, is adapted to move in a sidewise direction relative tothe other plate member in a direction longitudinally of the axis of thepivot post, and

coil spring means on said pivot post for normally urging said platemembers towards each other, one of said frame portions having an endportion angularly disposed with respect to the plate member securedthereto, and the plate member secured to the other of said frameportions, having an end extending outwardly beyond the pivot and beingdeflected outwardly in a sidewise direction and, under the tension ofthe coil spring means on the post, being adapted to automatically latchwith said angularly disposed portion of the end of the opposed frameportion when the adjacent ends of said resilient net supporting frameportions are pressed inwardly toward the tubular handle to bow saidframe portions outwardly a desired amount with respect to each other andto hold said frame portions in said bowed relation, the resiliency ofsaid frame portions, when the deflected end portion of the plate memberis in unlatched relation with the angularly disposed end of the opposedframe portion, being such as to tend to cause said frame portions toreturn to their initial extended shape whereby they may be retracted orextended with respect to the tubular handle, a hollow cap shaped to fitover the end of the tubular handle when the frame portions are inretracted position and a pair of link members pivotally connectedadjacent one end thereof to the cap and adjacent their respectiveopposed ends to each of the respective plate members.

JOSEPH R. PHANEUF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 325,287 Utley Sept. 1, 1885 412,773 Meisselbach Oct. 15, 1889440,568 Hebard Nov. 11, 1890 935,114 Covell Feb. 21, 1911 1,077,481 LevyNov. 4, 1913 1,094,886 Diossy Apr. 28, 1914 1,598,323 Spencer Aug. 31,1926 1,772,565 McKone Aug. 12, 1930 2,064,839 Kroll et a1. Dec. 22, 19362,561,645 Bediord et al. July 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 639,737 France Jan. 28, 1927

